Connecticut's Armory: A Timeline Of Contributions To War

Cannons

John Woike / Hartford Courant

This four-pounder cannon was cast in Salisbury and buried in Danbury in 1777 to save it from the British. It was brought from Danbury to Litchfield and then to Winchester in 1811, it would be buried and recovered at least three more times before being presented to the Winchester Historical Society in 1914.

This four-pounder cannon was cast in Salisbury and buried in Danbury in 1777 to save it from the British. It was brought from Danbury to Litchfield and then to Winchester in 1811, it would be buried and recovered at least three more times before being presented to the Winchester Historical Society in 1914. (John Woike / Hartford Courant)

1776, Sept. 6 The Turtle, a one-man submarine carved from oak by David Bushnell of Saybrook and manned by Ezra Lee of Lyme, attacks the HMS Eagle in New York Harbor, launching the world's submarine industry. CAPTION: A 1976 replica of the Turtle, a one-man submarine invented in 1776.

1776, Sept. 6 The Turtle, a one-man submarine carved from oak by David Bushnell of Saybrook and manned by Ezra Lee of Lyme, attacks the HMS Eagle in New York Harbor, launching the world's submarine industry. CAPTION: A 1976 replica of the Turtle, a one-man submarine invented in 1776. (Courtesy of the Connecticut River Museum)

By DAN HAAR, dhaar@courant.com | Hartford Courant The Connecticut River Valley from Springfield to New Haven has long been called "The Arsenal of Democracy," stemming from the output of the great 19th and 20th century gunmakers of the region. That's a big part of Connecticut's standing as a maker of weapons. But the heritage is not just about firearms and it's not just in the central river valley. From Salisbury to Bridgeport to Groton, the far corners of the state have advanced iron forging, aerospace and submarines, not only with invention but with large-scale production as well. Some highlights: